TOLEDO, Ohio – University of Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander was chosen as the first pick of the third round by the New York Giants in the 2025 draft in Green Bay, WisA. on Friday.

Alexander, who was the 65th overall selection, is the 11^th Rocket to be drafted under Head Coach Jason Candle since 2017, tied for the most in the Mid-American Conference in that time span.

This marks the second consecutive draft in which Toledo had a player chosen among the top 65 picks in the draft and the first time the Rockets have had first- and third-round picks in consecutive drafts. Quinyon Mitchell was selected at No. 22 in the first round last year.

"I'm feeling great, excited. I'm stoked," Alexander said moments after his selection. "I was relaxed tonight. I wasn't worried. I knew my name would come up sooner or later. I really feel like I proved that dreams can come true."

At New York, Alexander will be reunited with former teammate and linebacker Dyontae Johnson. "I'm excited to be in New York with my boy Tae," added Alexander. "I'm ready to get going and get to work."

Toledo is one of only 15 schools that have had a top-65 pick in the last two drafts. The others are Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Alabama, Georgia, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, Texas A&M, LSU, South Carolina, North Carolina, Missouri, and Minnesota. 

Alexander joins John Geco (65 in 2008), Diontae Johnson (66 in 2019), Kareem Hunt (86 in 2017) and Nick Kaczur (100 in 2005) as Rockets selected in the third round of the draft in the last 20 years.

A native of Fort Wayne, Ind., Alexander earned second-team All-MAC honors at defensive tackle in 2024 after making third-team all-league in 2023. He set career high in tackles (40) and tackles for loss (7.5) this past season and had a memorable 58-yard pick-six in Toledo's 48-46, six overtime victory over Pittsburgh in the GameAbove Sports Bowl. He finished his Rocket career with 127 tackles, 22.0 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks.

Alexander, who is listed 6-4 and 310 pounds, made a big impression at this year's Senior Bowl. He was named the top defensive lineman at the Senior Bowl in a vote by the offensive linemen participating in the practices. He followed that up with a noteworthy performance in the Senior Bowl game on Feb. 2, picking up one tackle for loss, another tackle for no gain and several pressures on quarterbacks for the opposing team.

Toledo Rockets in the NFL Draft Under Head Coach Jason Candle
2025 - Darius Alexander, DT, NY Giants, 3rd round (65)
2024 - Quinyon Mitchell, S, Philadelphia, 1st round (22)
2023 - Desjuan Johnson, DT, LA Rams, 7th round (259)
2022 - Tycen Anderson, S, Cincinnati, 5th round (166)
2022 - Samuel Womack, CB, San Francisco, 5th round (172)
2019 - Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh, 3rd round (66)
2019 - Ka'dar Hollman, CB, Green Bay, 6th round (185)
2018 - Logan Woodside, QB, Cincinnati, 7th round (249)
2017 - Kareem Hunt, RB, Kansas City, 3rd  round (86)
2017 - Michael Roberts, TE, Detroit, 4th round (127)
2017 - Treyvon Hester, DT, Oakland, 7th round (244)